Florida Estate Planning Lawyer Blog

In Jacksonville Florida including Duval, Clay and St. Johns Counties, all new residential foreclosure lawsuits are directed to a "Mediation with the Lender". While some who participate in these mediation feel they are getting a good deal, most do not realize what they are actually agreeing to when an agreement is reached. It is important to be represented by a Florida Foreclosure Lawyer or a Jacksonville Foreclosure Lawyer before attending one of the court ordered Foreclosure Mediations.

We have seen many cases, where the purported owner of the note tries to get the home owner to agree that they are the real party in interest and have the right to sue the homeowner. The agreements try to get the homeowners to waive all future rights to defenses and counterclaims for the improper actions of the people who are have filed the lawsuit. The agreements also cost the homeowner more than if they preformed under the existing loan and set the homeowner up for a future default and foreclosure.

Without someone who understands the terms of these agreements to represent you and negotiate, your outcome will likely be worse than the agreement you are presently in. While your payment may be lower in the short term, the reduction and past due amounts will be added on to the end. Another trick they try to pull is to let the interest rate float in 3-5 years. This will likely make your future payments much higher than they are now.

If you anticipate the need for a loan modification, or are expecting or have been served with a Florida Foreclosure Lawsuit contact a Jacksonville Foreclosure Defense Lawyer or Florida Foreclosure Defense Lawyer for a free consultation on what your options are and how to protect your home.

For more information on Jacksonville or Florida Foreclosure Defense See the Florida Foreclosure Defense Lawyers Blog.

How long can I stay in the home or what are my options?
It is still possible to stop the Summary Judgment and remain in the home but you need to act quickly or you could be removed from your home in as little as 24 hours after the sale.

Most Florida Foreclosure law suits are improperly filed and can be stopped, but you should discuss your situation and circumstances with a Florida Foreclosure Lawyer as soon as possible. Generally, you should start this when you first fall behind in your payments but we have had success in stopping summary judgments and even sales once they are scheduled. Whether anything can be done depends on the individual circumstances of a case.

If you are in foreclosure on your home or a rental property you should contact a Jacksonville Foreclosure Lawyers or Florida Foreclosure Lawyer to discuss your options.

For more information on Jacksonville or Florida Foreclosure Defense See the Florida Foreclosure Defense Lawyers Blog.

Most homeowners do not realize that a Florida foreclosure can be defended. Homeowners have the ability to fight for your right to remain in you home. THE APPLE LAW FIRM CAN FIGHT FOR YOU!

You may be upside down in your property today and think that walking away is your best option. STOP AND THINK. This may not be the right choice for you and your family! Over time your equity will return and by defending your foreclosure now, your future equity can be in protected and you may stand a better chance to economically survive. Fighting a Foreclosure makes sense for many Florida families and should be discussed with a Florida Foreclosure Lawyer or a Florida Foreclosure Lawyer who can look at your individual circumstances and let you know what your options are.

You may be behind in your payments and might have received a notice of default. That does not mean you must leave your property! Regardless of what debt collectors are telling you. You are a homeowner, not a renter. Eviction is not the lenders remedy. You have a right to fight for your home.

Sometimes events in your life have result in a financial hardship. Just because you are in default, it does not mean you have to rollover and abandon your home. By allowing the foreclosure to proceed without asserting your rights, you are providing relief to lender and giving them an easy out to seek the judicial sale your home, whether they actually own your home or not. You may believe you are in the wrong because you haven’t made your payments. This is not always the case. An experienced Jacksonville Foreclosure Lawyers or Florida Foreclosure Lawyer can explain why you should assert your rights and ways to protect your home.

There has been a barrage of "Non-Lawyer assistance" programs soliciting services to negotiate a “work-out”. Once a lawsuit has been filed, they cannot represent you and protect you in the Florida foreclosure lawsuit. Unless and until you receive a court document confirming the foreclosure has been dismissed, the lawyers on the other side will proceed. Regardless of what anyone is telling you! 


We have seen many clients that are in the process of a loan modification and a Florida Foreclosure case is filed against them. There are steps that every homeowner should take to protect their rights even if they are not in foreclosure at this time. The company you are paying for your monthly payment to may not even own your note and you may find that you owe the money to someone else. IF you own a home and are at risk of a foreclosure in Florida you should contact a Jacksonville Foreclosure Lawyers or Florida Foreclosure Lawyer as soon as possible to discuss your options.

For more information on Jacksonville or Florida Foreclosure Defense See the Florida Foreclosure Defense Lawyers Blog.